Improvement



A. TUFTS, COMBINED TORCH AND HOLDER FOR FIREWORKS. m. 185,1.7.

Patented Dec. 5,1876;

HE GRAPHIC CO.N.Y

- AUGUSTUS TUFTS, or MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS. i

IMPROVEMENT IN? consisten- TORCH AND worsen FOR FIREWORKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. ll'S'DJ E'Y, datedDecember 5, 182d; application liled September 26, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS TUFTS, ofMalden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a Combined Torch and Holder for ItomanOandles, Colored Lights,and 12ockcts,-of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, makingpart of this specification, in whichigure 1.is a perspective view of mycombined torch and holder for Roman candles, 860. Fig. 2 is an elevationof the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the center of thesame, with a blue or other colored light in place ready to be ignited.Fig. 4 is a horizontal'section on the line 00 w of Fig. 2.

My present invention consists in a torch provided with a holder forRoman candles, blue or other colored lights, rockets, 85c, which may beignited by the flame of the torch when a salute or signal is to be givenby campaign or other clubs, or on shipboard or elsewhere; and myinvention also consists in certain details of construction, to bementioned here after.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention,I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried lt-out."

In the said drawings, A is the receptacle for containing the naphtha orother fluid to be burned. Vertically through theccntcr of the receptacleis a cylindrical passage, a, which, with a tube, 1), extending below it,and a tube, a, pro ecting above it, all of corresponding diameter, formsa continuous vertical tube or holder, B, for the reception of the Romancandle, colored light, rocket, due, to be used when required by thebearer of the torch for giving signals, salutes, 850., the top of thefirework being kept, by a spiral spring, d, up against a flange orshoulder, e, formed on. the inside of a screw-cap, h, which fits over ascrewthread on a ring, 1;, secured at the top of two snort strips, 70,of metal, extending up above the top of the tube 0, the distance betweenthe fuse 0t the firework and the top of the torch burner 1 being suchthat its flame will extend to and readily light the firework when placedin position. The lower end of the spiral spring rests on a movable standor support, m, which may be raised or lowered within the tube 1) bymeans of a'knob or handlem, attached thereto, and projecting outhorizontally through a vertical slot, 1), formed therein, the width ofthe slot being increased at various points, torn'ling recesses q r s, sothat after applying the hand to the knob, and moving the stand up theslot against the resistance of the spring, the knob may be broughtlaterally into the recess desired, thus locking and supporting the standwith the spring thereon, by which ar-- rangement the tube or holder B ismade to accommodate pieces of fireworks of different lengths, thepressure of the spring serving to keep the fuse of the fireworkconstantly up against the under side of the screw-cap h in a positionaccessible to the flame from the burner.

As the screw-cap h is liabloto become so heated that it would bedifficult to remove it alter the torch is lighted, the firework may beplaced in position on top ofthe spring through the tube b, which isformed in two portions or halves, one, 5,being stationary, and theother, 6, movable around and behind it,-so that easy access is altbrdedthrough the openingt to the interior of the tube,'to adjust the fireworkin place, the most convenient way being to direct the fuse end up thecylindrical passage a, through the center ot'thc torch, and slightlycompress the spring 01, to bring it down under the lower end of thefirework, when the movable portion 6 of the tube is swung around, so asto close the opening t, by applying the fingers to a knob or projection,u, on its outside.

Should the support m be at the bottom of the tube, and the distancebetween the top of the spring thereon be greater than the length of thefirework to be ignited-for instance, a short blue light-after beingplaced in position through the opening 75, and closing the tube, thesupport at may be raised and locked in the tube at such height that thespring will constantly exert a pressure and force, and follow the bluelight up the holder while it is burning.

Where Roman candles or rockets only-are to he used, the tube 1) may beclosed and formed in one continuous piece, and the screw-cap k may bedispensed with, the firework being dropped into the holder through thetop of the tube c, the fuse of the candle or rocket being brought upwithin reach of the flame of the burner by raising and locking thesupport in the proper recess q r s, and the empty shell may also heremoved from the top of the tube 0 by carrying the support m stillhigher, till the top of the shell projects up a sufficient distance tohe readily caught by the fingers.

\Vherc blue or other colored lights are not to he used,-;the spring maybe dispensed with, the top of the firework being elevated within reachof the ilaine by raising the support m; and the holder may be composedof two rings or hands connected by rods or wires, or it may consist of asocket formed in the upper end of the stick or handle D, Withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A torch provided with a holder for Beman can dles, colored lights,rocket-s, &c., which may be ignited by the flame rising from thetorchhurner, substantially as described.

2. A firework -holder, B, passing centrally through or to one side ofthe fluid-receptacle A of a torch, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. As an improvement in torches, the holder B, with its slot 1) andscrew-cap h, in combination with the spring 61 and movable support m,provided with a knob or handle, it, as and for the purpose described.

4. In combination with a torch, the tube 1), made in two portions, 5 6,constructed and operatin g substantially as described.

Witness my hand this 19th day of September, 1876. I

In presence of-- I N. W. STEARNS, W. J. CAMBRIDGE.

AUGUSTUS TUFTS.

